The disruptions are starting to be felt. After nine days of mobilization, several groups arrive around Paris and major cities on Monday, January 29th. Motorists are already moving slowly near Lyon. About 80 tractors are positioned on the A450, south of the city, as reported by Radio France’s special envoy on site. Thirty tractors have set out from the cattle market in Agen (Lot-et-Garonne) to join other farmers in Cancon and then in Dordogne, before stopping at a “base camp” near Limoges in the evening. They are expected to reach the Rungis market in the Val-de-Marne, at the request of the rural coordination. Follow our live coverage.
Eight “blockage points” planned on major highways near the capital. The FNSEA and the Young Farmers of the Greater Paris Basin have announced that they will be in place from 2 pm. This major mobilization comes after a series of measures announced on Friday by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal fell short.
Around 15,000 members of law enforcement have been mobilized. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Sunday evening that he wants to prevent tractors from entering “Paris and major cities” as well as blockades of the Rungis market and the airports in the Paris region. He also mentioned the “restraint” requested of the police and gendarmes, who should not “intervene at the blockades” but only “secure them”.
Marine Tondelier praises the “convergent struggles” of farmers and environmentalists. The national secretary of the Environmentalists declared on France Inter on Monday that she finds it “totally” consistent that more than 50 environmental organizations are calling to join the movement. This is in response to Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who criticized on Friday “those who oppose the defense of our farmers and the defense of the environment”.
Slow-moving operations planned by taxis in several cities in France. In addition to the blockade by farmers, there is a national mobilization of taxi drivers to renegotiate transportation of patients with the health insurance system taking place on Monday: according to France Bleu Gironde, between 500 and 800 taxis are expected on the ring road in Bordeaux in the morning. The cities of Lyon, Tours, Marseille and Nice are also affected.
